Arrangements completed for NA-55 by-poll

RAWALPINDI (APP) All arrangements have been completed to hold by-election of NA-55 constituency in a free and fair atmosphere. More than 5,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure foolproof security to the candidates and voters during the polling. According to Chief Secretary Punjab, Nadeem Asif, police will remain alert and available to cope with any emergency and close circuit television cameras will be installed at sensitive places to keep a vigil and monitor activities. The Chief Secretary informed that all measures would be adopted to assist election staff to conduct free and fair election. The District Coordination Officer (DCO), Imdadullah Bosal has set up a central control room in the office of District Revenue Office in connection with by-election. The telephone number of control room is 051-9270774 while Assistant Director, Local Government, Allah Ditta Najmi has been made focal person. The Rawalpindi Traffic Police has announced a special plan to ensure smooth traffic flow on the election day. The wardens and mobile squads have been deputed outside the election offices to ensure proper parking. Chief Traffic Officer SSP, Dr. Muhammad Akhtar Abass has requested the political workers to park their vehicles properly outside the election offices, so that the citizens do not face any problem. The District Administration Rawalpindi has announced public holiday on Wednesday (February 24) to facilitate the voters. All offices of the District Government and educational institutions will remain closed on February 24. The election campaign for by-election of NA-55 constituency has ended with the separate addresses of Mian Nawaz Sharif and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday night. Prior to this, all the candidates are busy in holding corner meetings and going door to door to muster support of the voters. There are six main contenders for the seat of National Assembly, which became vacant after the resignation of Haji Pervez Khan of PML-N, but the real contest is likely to be held between Malik Shakil of PML-N and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed of Awami Muslim League. Dr Muhammad Kamal, of Jamat-e-Islami, Barrister Iftikhar Danish (Independent), Ejaz Khan Jazi of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf and Haji Gulzar Awan of Pakistan Aman Party are also in the run but their chances are not as good as the candidates of PML-N and Awami Muslim League. According to a survey conducted by this agency, every candidate has been holding seven to eight corners meetings daily to get support of the voters but Haji Gulzar Awan and Barrister Iftikahr Danish were focusing on door-to-door campaign and approaching the business community during their daily electioneering to muster their support. The analysts say that there will be a close contest between PML-N candidate Malik Shakil Awan and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. MNAs Hanif Abbasi, Malik Abrar and other PML-N local leadership is extending all out help to the party candidate while PPP, in accordance with the Charter of Democracy (CoD), has not fielded its candidate against the PML-N candidate. On the other hand, the PML-Q headed by Chaudhry Shujat Hussain has announced its support for Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. Sheikh Rashid was also targeted by the unknown attackers in his election office at Khyaban-e-Sir Syed in which three of his supporters were killed. A joint investigation team comprising ISI, IB and Police office had been constituted to arrest the culprit and ascertain the fact behind this attack.